US10232617B2 - Ink jet recording method, recording head, and ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Ink jet recording method, recording head, and ink jet recording apparatus Download PDF

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US10232617B2
US10232617B2 US15/622,815 US201715622815A US10232617B2 US 10232617 B2 US10232617 B2 US 10232617B2 US 201715622815 A US201715622815 A US 201715622815A US 10232617 B2 US10232617 B2 US 10232617B2
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Prior art keywords
ink
ejection
jet recording
ink jet
recording method
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US20170361611A1 (en
Inventor
Mikio Sanada
Shingo OKUSHIMA
Yoshiyuki Nakagawa
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Priority claimed from JP2017102064A external-priority patent/JP2017226209A/ja
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Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NAKAGAWA, YOSHIYUKI, OKUSHIMA, SHINGO, SANADA, MIKIO
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/1433—Structure of nozzle plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
    • B41J2/14032—Structure of the pressure chamber
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
    • B41J2/14032—Structure of the pressure chamber
    • B41J2/1404—Geometrical characteristics
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
    • C09D11/00—Inks
    • C09D11/02—Printing inks
    • C09D11/06—Printing inks based on fatty oils
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
    • C09D11/00—Inks
    • C09D11/30—Inkjet printing inks
    • C09D11/32—Inkjet printing inks characterised by colouring agents
    • C09D11/322—Pigment inks
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
    • C09D11/00—Inks
    • C09D11/30—Inkjet printing inks
    • C09D11/38—Inkjet printing inks characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2002/14403—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads including a filter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/12—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads with ink circulating through the whole print head
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
    • C09D11/00—Inks
    • C09D11/02—Printing inks
    • C09D11/10—Printing inks based on artificial resins
    • C09D11/106—Printing inks based on artificial resins containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • C09D11/108—Hydrocarbon resins

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an ink jet recording method, a recording head, and an ink jet recording apparatus.
  • Ink jet recording apparatus including a line recording head (line head) are being used for high-speed image recording (see PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2002-533247).
  • a line head has ejection orifices through which an ink is ejected. Since the ejection orifices are arranged across the entire width of the recording medium, auxiliary ejection is difficult.
  • Auxiliary ejection is one of the operations for recovering the function of the ejection orifices and is intended to suppress the increase in viscosity of the ink in ejection orifices the ejection frequency of which is low and thus to prevent the degradation of ejection properties.
  • ink is moved in the vicinity of the ejection orifices to reduce or eliminate the clogging of the ejection orifices with foreign matter (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-118611).
  • oleic acid is added to the ink (see PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2013-522414 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-202088).
  • the present disclosure provides an ink jet recording method that can achieve a satisfactory stability of intermittent ink ejection even under severe conditions, such as in the case of using a line head. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a recording head using the ink jet recording method and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink jet recording method.
  • an ink jet recording method for recording an image by ejecting an ink from a recording head including a member defining an ejection orifice through which the ink is ejected, an ejection element configured to generate an energy used for ejecting the ink, and a first flow path communicating with a portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element.
  • the method includes ejecting an ink through the ejection orifice, and moving the ink from the first flow path to the portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element separately from the step of ejecting the ink.
  • the ink is an aqueous ink containing a coloring material and a compound containing a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • a recording head including a member defining an ejection orifice through which an ink is ejected, an ejection element configured to generate an energy used for ejecting the ink, a first and a second flow path communicating with a portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element, and a moving device different from the ejection element, configured to move the ink from the first flow path to the second flow path.
  • the ink is an aqueous ink containing a coloring material and a compound containing a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head that includes a member defining an ejection orifice through which an ink is ejected, an ejection element configured to generate an energy used for ejecting the ink, a first and a second flow path communicating with a portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element, and a moving device different from the ejection element, configured to move the ink from the first flow path to the second flow path.
  • the ink is an aqueous ink containing a coloring material and a compound containing a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • the present disclosure provides an ink jet recording method that can achieve a satisfactory stability of intermittent ink ejection even under severe conditions, such as in the case of using a line head, and also provides a recording head using the ink jet recording method and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink jet recording method.
  • FIGS. 1A to 1F are schematic diagrams illustrating the mechanism how a compound is aligned at a meniscus in the case of using a recording head having a first flow path.
  • FIGS. 2A to 2F are schematic diagrams illustrating the mechanism how a compound is aligned at a meniscus in the case of using a recording head having a first flow path and a second flow path.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a line head.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a section of an ejection element substrate.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main portion of an ink jet recording apparatus.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply system.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams illustrating a state of moving ink in the vicinity of an ejection orifice.
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a line head.
  • aqueous ink used in the embodiments may be simply referred to as the ink.
  • the first flow path and the second flow path may be integrally referred to as the flow path.
  • Physical properties mentioned herein are those at a temperature of 25° C. unless otherwise specified.
  • (Meth)acrylic acid” refers to acrylic acid and methacrylic acid
  • (meth)acrylate” refers to an acrylate and a methacrylate.
  • an ink which contains a compound that is stable in the ink not evaporating, but exhibits a hydrophilicity and a hydrophobicity with such a good balance that the compound is caused to be aligned at the interface between the ink and the atmosphere by the evaporation of water.
  • the compound is uniformly aligned over the entire meniscus formed at each ejection orifice to form a coating by continuously supplying the compound to the vicinity of the ejection orifice by moving the ink in a flow path.
  • This coating reduces the evaporation of water, and can be easily removed by ejection force; hence, the coating can improve intermittent ejection stability while keeping the ink from sticking around the ejection orifice.
  • FIGS. 1A to 1F are schematic diagrams illustrating the mechanism how a compound is aligned at a meniscus in the case of using a recording head having a first flow path.
  • the first flow path 17 communicates with a portion between an ejection orifice 1 and an ejection element 4 .
  • the ink contains a coloring material 13 and a compound 14 containing a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • the compound 14 in the ink between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 is aligned at the meniscus 12 of the ejection orifice 1 ( FIG. 1B ).
  • the ink in the first flow path 17 flows to the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 , the portion of the ink between the meniscus 12 and the ejection element 4 is moved.
  • the compound 14 is continuously supplied to the portion between the meniscus 12 and the ejection element 4 , and the compound 14 is aligned at the meniscus 12 . Consequently, the compound 14 forms a uniform coating over the meniscus 12 . This uniform coating hinders water from evaporating through the ejection orifice.
  • the ink in the first flow path 17 does not flow to the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 .
  • the compound 14 in the portion of the ink between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 is aligned at the meniscus 12 of the ejection orifice 1 ( FIG. 1E ).
  • the ink between the meniscus 12 and the ejection element 4 is not moved, and accordingly, the compound 14 is not supplied to the portion between the meniscus 12 and the ejection element 4 .
  • the ink contains a compound containing a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • the compound is amphiphilic because of the presence of a hydrophobic hydrocarbon and a hydrophilic hydroxy group or anionic group.
  • the hydrophobic site having little or no affinity for water orients to the atmosphere, whereas the hydrophilic site having an affinity for water orients to the ink side.
  • the compound forms a coating over the meniscus. If the carbon number of the hydrocarbon is less than 8, the compound is rather hydrophilic, and accordingly, the compound is not likely to be aligned at the meniscus when the ink between the meniscus and the ejection element evaporates.
  • the compound does not form a uniform coating over the meniscus, and water evaporates through the ejection orifice. Consequently, stable intermittent ink ejection is not achieved. If the carbon number of the hydrocarbon exceeds 18, the compound is rather hydrophobic, and accordingly, the compound is not caused to be aligned at the meniscus by the evaporation of water. Consequently, stable intermittent ink ejection is not achieved.
  • the inks of PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2013-522414 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-202088 contain a compound similar to the compound used in the present disclosure, stable intermittent ink ejection is not achieved by these techniques. The reason for this is that the coloring material in these inks precipitates to increase the viscosity of the ink and forms aggregates that are likely to stick to the ejection orifice.
  • FIGS. 2A to 2F are schematic diagrams illustrating the mechanism how a compound is aligned at a meniscus in the case of using a recording head having a first flow path and a second flow path.
  • the first flow path 17 and the second path 18 each communicate with the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 .
  • the compound 14 in the ink between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 is aligned at the meniscus 12 of the ejection orifice 1 ( FIG. 2B ).
  • the compound 14 is continuously supplied to the portion between the meniscus 12 and the ejection element 4 , and the compound 14 is aligned at the meniscus 12 . Consequently, the compound 14 forms a uniform coating over the meniscus 12 . This uniform coating hinders water from evaporating through the ejection orifice. It is advantageous for efficiently moving the ink between the meniscus 12 and the ejection element 4 that the two flow paths communicate with the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 .
  • the following description will illustrate a recording head having the first flow path 17 and the second flow path 18 each communicating with the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 , and an ink jet recording apparatus including the recording head by way of example.
  • the subject matter of the present disclosure may be embodied in a recording head including a first flow path 17 communicating with the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 , and an ink jet recording apparatus including such a recording head.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a line head 11 .
  • the line head 11 includes ejection element substrates 10 in which ejection orifices are arranged.
  • the ejection element substrates 10 are arranged in a straight line.
  • Each ejection element substrate 10 is provided with ejection orifices each corresponding to any one of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) inks.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a section of the ejection element substrate 10 .
  • Ejection orifices 1 are formed in an ejection orifice-forming member 5 .
  • a substrate 3 has ejection elements 4 (not shown in FIG. 4 ).
  • the ejection orifice-forming member 5 and the substrate 3 define each first flow path 17 and each second flow path 18 for the inks.
  • the first flow path 17 is the region from an inflow port 8 through which the ink is introduced from an inflow path 6 to the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 .
  • the second flow path 18 is the region from the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 to an outflow port 9 from which the ink is discharged to an outflow path 7 .
  • the ink is moved in the flow paths from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side (in the direction indicated by the arrows shown in FIG.
  • the ink enters the first flow path 17 through the inflow path 6 and the inflow port 8 , then passes through the portion between the ejection orifice 1 and the ejection element 4 , and flows to the outflow path 7 through the second flow path 18 and the outflow port 9 .
  • the step of moving the ink from the first flow path to the portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element is performed separately from the step of ejecting the ink through the ejection orifice.
  • the moving of the ink is preferably independent of the operation intended to fill the portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element with the ink.
  • the ink jet recording method further preferably includes moving the ink from the portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element to the second flow path.
  • the moving of the ink refers to only the step of moving the ink from the first flow path to the portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element.
  • the moving of the ink is preferably performed without discharging the ink through the ejection orifice.
  • the discharging of the ink through the ejection orifice includes a recovery operation, such as auxiliary discharge or suction.
  • the moving of the ink does not have to be performed during a recovery operation of the recording head.
  • the ink during the moving of the ink is preferably moved with a moving device different from the ejection element.
  • a thermal ejection technique is used in which the ejection element generates a thermal energy to form bubbles in the ink, thereby ejecting the ink.
  • the concept of the present disclosure may be incorporated into a recording head using a piezoelectric ejection technique or any other ejection technique.
  • the ink is circulated between an ink holder and the recording head in the present embodiment, other embodiments are not limited to this.
  • two ink holders may be provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording head so as not to circulate the ink, and the ink in the flow path is moved by transmitting the ink from one of the ink holders to the other.
  • the recording head described hereinafter is a line head including ejection element substrates capable of ejecting four C, M, Y, and K color inks, arranged in a straight line.
  • the line head may include ejection element substrates one for each of the C, M, Y, and K inks.
  • the concept of the present disclosure may be incorporated into a serial head that records images while being moved.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main portion of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present disclosure.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus 1000 includes a conveying portion 16 that conveys a recording medium 15 , and a line head 11 disposed perpendicular to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed.
  • the line head 11 records images while a plurality of recording media 15 are conveyed one after another or intermittently.
  • the recording medium 15 is not limited to a cut piece of paper and may be a roll of paper.
  • the moving of the ink is preferably performed by moving the ink continuously or intermittently. It will now be described in detail how to move the ink continuously and how to move the ink intermittently.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a state where the line head 11 is connected to a first circulation pump (high-pressure side) 1001 , another first circulation pump (low-pressure side) 1002 , a buffer tank 1003 , a second circulation pump 1004 , and others for continuous liquid flow.
  • FIG. 6 shows only a channel through which one of the C, M, Y, and K inks is moved for the sake of simple description, the actual line head 11 has flow channels corresponding to the four colors.
  • the buffer tank 1003 connected to a main tank 1006 acting as the ink holder has an air communication port (not shown) through which air bubbles are discharged from the ink.
  • the buffer tank 1003 is also connected to a replenishment pump 1005 .
  • the ink in the line head 11 is consumed by being ejected (or discharged) through the ejection orifices of the recording head for recording or suction recovery or the like.
  • the replenishment pump 1005 delivers the ink to the buffer tank 1003 from the main tank 1006 according to the consumption.
  • the two first circulation pumps 1001 and 1002 draw the ink through a liquid connector 111 of the line head 11 and deliver the ink to the buffer tank 1003 .
  • the first circulation pumps each is preferably a positive displacement pump capable of quantitatively transmitting liquid. Examples of the positive displacement pump include a tube pump, a gear pump, a diaphragm pump, and a syringe pump.
  • the high-pressure first circulation pump 1001 and the low-pressure first circulation pump 1002 allow the ink to flow in a common inflow path 211 and a common outflow path 212 .
  • a negative pressure control unit 230 includes two pressure control mechanisms set for controlling to different pressures.
  • the two negative pressure control mechanisms that is, one on the relatively high-pressure side (designated by H in FIG. 6 ) and the other on the relatively low-pressure side (designated by L in FIG. 6 ), are each connected to the common inflow path 211 and outflow path 212 in the ejection unit 300 through a supply unit 220 which includes filter 221 removing foreign matters from the ink.
  • the ejection unit 300 includes the common inflow path 211 , the common outflow path 212 , and inflow and outflow paths 6 and 7 communicating with the respective ejection element substrates 10 .
  • the common inflow path 211 is connected to the pressure control mechanism H, and the common outflow path 212 is connected to the pressure control mechanism L; hence, a pressure difference is created between the inflow path 6 and the outflow path 7 .
  • a pressure difference is created between the inflow port 8 (shown in FIG. 4 ) communicating with the inflow path 6 and the outflow port 9 (shown in FIG. 4 ) communicating with the outflow path 7 .
  • the flow rate (mm/s) of the ink is preferably 0.1 mm/s or more to 10.0 mm/s or less.
  • the ink jet recording method disclosed herein includes the step of ejecting the ink through the ejection orifice.
  • the ink in the first flow path is moved to the portion between the ejection orifice and the ejection element separately from the step of ejecting the ink.
  • the ink may be moved during a recovery operation for the recording head. In this instance, since the ink is moved even during the recovery operation for the recording head, the ink is constantly moved. If the ink is constantly moved, water is easily evaporated, and the concentration of the circulating ink is likely to increase.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus may be provided with a device capable of adding water into the ink when a predetermined time has elapsed, or a unit including a device capable of detecting the increase in concentration of the ink and a device capable of adding water into the ink, for reducing or eliminating the increase in concentration of the ink.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams illustrating a state of moving ink in the vicinity of the ejection orifice.
  • the ink moving in the vicinity of the ejection orifice in the flow path is roughly in either of the following two states.
  • One is the state in which no circulation flow occurs in the vicinity of the meniscus, as shown in FIG. 7A ; and the other is the state in which a circulation flow occurs in the vicinity of the meniscus, as shown in FIG. 7B .
  • the flow rate of the ink in the flow path is the same, the moving ink in the vicinity of the meniscus is in either of the two states.
  • the ink may be moved in an intermittent manner. How to move the ink intermittently will now be described with reference to FIG. 8 illustrating a sectional view of a line head.
  • the ink As the ink enters through each inflow port 210 , the ink is moved in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 8 by the corresponding circulation pump 206 acting as an ink moving device and flows out through the corresponding outflow port 212 . Hence, the ink is moved between the ejection orifice 116 and the ejection element 216 .
  • the circulation pump intermittently moves the ink.
  • the flow rate (m/s) of the ink is preferably 1.0 m/s or more to 10.0 m/s or less.
  • the flow rate is measured in the portion in the first flow path 17 between the substrate 3 and the ejection orifice-forming member 5 shown in FIG. 1A . In this instance, the flow rate of the ink moving in directions other than the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1A is not measured.
  • Each ink used in the embodiment disclosed herein contains a coloring material and a compound containing a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • the inks used herein are not necessarily cured by an energy, such as UV radiation. Ingredients of the ink will now be described.
  • the coloring material may be a pigment or a dye, and may be selected from among the known pigments and dyes. Pigments are more advantageous.
  • the pigment used as the coloring material may be a carbon black or an organic pigment.
  • the pigment may be composed of a single pigment or may contain two or more pigments.
  • the coloring material content in the ink is preferably 0.10% by mass or more to 15.00% by mass or less, more preferably 1.00% by mass or more to 10.00% by mass or less.
  • the pigment may be of resin-dispersed type in which the pigment is dispersed with a resin acting as a dispersant (hereinafter referred to as resin dispersant), such as a resin-dispersed pigment using a resin dispersant or a microencapsulated pigment whose particles are covered with a resin.
  • resin dispersant such as a resin-dispersed pigment using a resin dispersant or a microencapsulated pigment whose particles are covered with a resin.
  • the pigment may be a resin-bonded self-dispersible pigment whose particles have surfaces to which an organic group of, for example, a resin, is chemically bonded.
  • a self-dispersible pigment whose particles have surfaces to which a hydrophilic group is introduced may be used.
  • two or more pigments dispersed in different manners may be used in combination.
  • the molecule of the resin dispersant has a hydrophilic site and a hydrophobic site.
  • a resin dispersant may be a resin produced by polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer, such as (meth)acrylic acid, with a hydrophobic monomer, such as styrene, ethyl (meth)acrylate, or benzyl (meth)acrylate.
  • the resin dispersant preferably has an acid value of 50 mg KOH/g or more to 300 mg KOH/g or less.
  • the polystyrene-equivalent weight average molecular weight (Mw), measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), of the resin dispersant is preferably 1,000 or more to 15,000 or less.
  • the resin dispersant content in the ink is preferably 0.10% by mass or more to 10.00% by mass or less, more preferably 0.20% by mass or more to 4.00% by mass or less.
  • the mass ratio of the resin dispersant to the pigment is preferably 0.10 or more to 1.00 or less.
  • another atomic group may be present between the surfaces of the pigment particles and the hydrophilic group.
  • an atomic group include linear or branched alkylene groups having a carbon number of 1 to 12, arylene groups, such as a phenylene group and a naphthylene group, an amide group, a sulfonyl group, an amino group, an imino group, a carbonyl group, an ester group, an ether group, and a combined group of two or more of these groups.
  • hydrophilic group capable of being introduced to the surfaces of the pigment particles examples include anionic groups, such as —COOM, —SO 3 M, and —PO 3 M 2 , and nonionic groups, such as —OH. M's in these groups each represent H, Na, K, or NH 4 . If the anionic group is in a salt form, part or the entirety of the salt may be dissociated in the aqueous ink.
  • the pigment is a self-dispersible pigment whose particles have surface to which a hydrophilic group is introduced. Since the hydrophilic group has a polarity, the self-dispersible pigment is hindered from forming aggregate compared with the case where the pigment is dispersed with a dispersant. Thus, the hydrophilic group helps improve the stability of intermittent ink ejection.
  • the compound contains a chain hydrocarbon having a carbon number of 8 or more to 18 or less substituted by a hydroxy group or an anionic group.
  • the anionic group include a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a phosphate group, and a phosphonate group.
  • the carboxy group is advantageous. The carboxy group is more easily bound to water molecules than the hydroxy group or other anionic groups even if water has evaporated, and hinders pigment particles from aggregating, thus helping improve the stability of intermittent ink ejection.
  • the compound may be a compound having a hydroxy group, such as lauryl alcohol, or a compound having a carboxy group, such as octanoic acid, stearic acid, or oleic acid.
  • oleic acid is advantageous. Oleic acid is liquid at room temperature; hence when the compound thereof is aligned at the meniscus, oleic acid is less likely to be solid than stearic acid, which is solid at room temperature, accordingly unlikely to inhibit ink ejection.
  • the compound content in the ink is preferably 0.05% by mass or more to 0.50% by mass or less, more preferably 0.10% by mass or more to 0.30% by mass or less.
  • the compound content is less than 0.05% by mass, such a content is so low that the compound is unlikely to form a coating over the meniscus. Consequently, water evaporation from the ink is not reduced, and the stability of intermittent ink ejection is likely to be insufficient. If the compound content exceeds 0.50% by mass, the coating of the compound becomes thick. Consequently, ink ejection is likely to be suppressed, and the stability of intermittent ink ejection is likely to be insufficient.
  • the ink preferably further contains a resin.
  • a hydrophobic site of the resin is adsorbed to the surfaces of the coloring material particles and helps the pigment disperse, thus improving the stability of intermittent ink ejection.
  • the resin is physically adsorbed to a site that is not bound to the hydrophilic group and helps the pigment disperse.
  • the resin content in the ink is preferably 1.00% by mass or more to 3.00% by mass or less, more preferably 1.00% by mass or more to 2.00% by mass or less.
  • the resin may have a hydrophilic unit and a hydrophobic unit.
  • the hydrophilic unit is derived from a monomer having a hydrophilic group.
  • the hydrophobic unit is derived from a monomer having a hydrophobic group.
  • the hydrophilic unit accounts for 10.00% by mass or more to 30.00% by mass or less of the total mass of resin.
  • the hydrophobic unit accounts for 70.00% by mass or more to 90.00% by mass or less of the total mass of resin.
  • the monomer having a hydrophilic group can be at least one selected from the group consisting of monomers having a carboxy group, monomers having a phosphonate group, monomers having a hydroxy group, and monomers having an ethylene oxide structure.
  • Exemplary monomers having a carboxy group include monomers having an ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenic unsaturated group, such as (meth)acrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, and fumaric acid.
  • Exemplary monomers having a phosphonate group include monomers having an ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenic unsaturated group, such as ethyl 2-phosphonate (meth)acrylate.
  • the carboxylic acid and the monomer having a phosphonate group may be in the form of anhydride or salt thereof.
  • a salt include salts of an alkali metal salt, such as lithium, sodium, or potassium, and ammonium salts.
  • Exemplary monomers having a hydroxy group include 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, and other hydroxy-containing alkyl (meth)acrylates.
  • Exemplary monomers having an ethylene oxide structure include methoxyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate and alkoxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylates having one to three ethylene oxide structures, such as methoxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate. These monomers may be used singly or in combination.
  • the monomer having a hydrophilic group is (meth)acrylic acid.
  • the monomer having a hydrophobic group may be a monomer having an aromatic group or an alkyl (meth)acrylate.
  • the monomer having an aromatic group include styrene, ⁇ -methylstyrene, benzyl (meth) acrylate, and 2-phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate. Styrene is advantageous as the monomer having an aromatic group.
  • alkyl (meth)acrylate examples include those having a carbon number of 1 or more to 4 or less, such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, n-propyl (meth)acrylate, isopropyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate, and isobutyl (meth)acrylate. These may be used singly or in combination. Among those alkyl (meth)acrylates, butyl (meth)acrylate is advantageous.
  • the ink disclosed herein is an aqueous ink containing an aqueous medium containing water.
  • the aqueous medium may further contain a water-soluble organic solvent.
  • the water is preferably deionized water (ion exchanged water).
  • the water-soluble organic solvent may be selected from among, but is not limited to, solvents that can be used in ink jet inks, such as alcohols, glycols, glycol ethers, and nitrogen containing compounds. These water-soluble organic solvents may be used singly or in combination.
  • the water content in the ink is preferably 50.00% by mass or more to 95.00% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the ink.
  • the water-soluble organic solvent content in the ink is preferably 3.00% by mass or more to 50.00% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the ink. If the water-soluble organic solvent content is less than 3.00% by mass, the ink is likely to be insufficient in stability of, for example, resistance to solidification when used in an ink jet recording apparatus. In contrast, if water-soluble organic solvent content is more than 50.00% by mass, the viscosity of the ink can increase to the extent that the ink cannot be stably ejected.
  • the ink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further contain a water-soluble organic compound that is solid at 25° C., such as urea, a urea derivative, trimethylolpropane, or trimethylolethane.
  • a water-soluble organic compound that is solid at 25° C.
  • the ink may optionally contain other additives, such as a surfactant, a pH adjuster, an antifoaming agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a preservative, an antifungal agent, an antioxidant, an antireductant, and a chelating agent.
  • the viscosity of the ink is preferably 1.0 mPa ⁇ s or more to 5.0 mPa ⁇ s or less, more preferably 1.0 mPa ⁇ s or more to 3.5 mPa ⁇ s or less, at 25° C.
  • the static surface tension of the ink is preferably 28.0 mN/m or more to 45.0 mN/m or less at 25° C.
  • the pH of the ink is preferably 7.0 or more to 9.0 or less.
  • ion exchange water was dissolved 8.00 parts of styrene-acrylic acid copolymer having an acid value of 120 mg OH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 8,000 neutralized with a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution having the same acid value and the same moles as the copolymer.
  • a carbon black having a specific surface area of 220 m 2 /g and a DBP absorption of 105 mL/100 g and 72.00 parts of ion exchanged water.
  • Pigment dispersion liquid C was a type of dispersion in which the carbon black was resin-dispersed in water (pigment content: 15.00%, resin content: 6.40%).
  • Styrene-n-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid copolymer (mole ratio: 33:44:23) having an acid value of 120 mg OH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 was neutralized with a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution having the same acid value and the same moles as the copolymer. An appropriate amount of ion exchanged water was added to the resulting copolymer to yield a resin solution with a resin content (solid basis) of 10.00%.
  • Inks 1 to 17 were each introduced into the ink holder of an ink jet recording apparatus including the main portion shown in FIG. 5 for evaluation.
  • the following recording heads 1 to 4 were used for recording images.
  • Recording heads 1 to 3 each have the first and the second flow path.
  • Recording head 4 has the first flow path.
  • Recording head 1 intermittently moves the ink by using the structure shown in FIG. 8 .
  • the flow rate of the ink in recording head 1 was 5.0 m/s.
  • Recording head 2 continuously moves the ink by using the structure shown in FIG. 6 , without allowing any circulation flow to occur in the vicinity of the meniscus, as shown in FIG. 7A .
  • the flow rate of the ink in recording head 2 was 5.0 mm/s.
  • Recording head 3 continuously moves the ink by using the structure shown in FIG. 6 , allowing a circulation flow to occur in the vicinity of the meniscus, as shown in FIG. 7B .
  • the flow rate of the ink in recording head 3 was 5.0 mm/s.
  • Recording heads 1 to 3 each have the first and the second flow path, whereas recording head 4 has the first flow path and no second flow path and intermittently moves the ink.
  • the flow rate of the ink in recording head 4 was 5.0 m/s.
  • the flow rate was measured in the portion in the first flow path 17 between the substrate 3 and the ejection orifice-forming member 5 shown in FIG. 1A . At this time, the flow rate of the ink moving in directions other than the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

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EP0425280A2 (de) 1989-10-26 1991-05-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Wasserbeständige Tintenzusammensetzung
JP2002533247A (ja) 1998-12-24 2002-10-08 ザール テクノロジー リミテッド 小滴堆積装置
WO2004003087A1 (en) 2002-07-01 2004-01-08 Nu-Kote International, Inc. Aqueous magnetic ink character recognition ink-jet ink composition
US20070105980A1 (en) * 2005-11-07 2007-05-10 Canon Finetech Inc. Ink jet aqueous ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus
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WO2011115614A1 (en) 2010-03-15 2011-09-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Inkjet ink with self-dispersed pigment
US20110234685A1 (en) 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus
EP2371545A1 (de) 2010-03-29 2011-10-05 Fujifilm Corporation Strahlvorrichtung mit verringertem Übersprechen
US20120113197A1 (en) 2010-11-09 2012-05-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Recording apparatus and liquid ejection head
US8573758B2 (en) * 2009-02-17 2013-11-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid jet recording head and liquid supply method
US20140085381A1 (en) 2012-09-24 2014-03-27 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Inkjet head and manufacturing method for the inkjet head

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0425280A2 (de) 1989-10-26 1991-05-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Wasserbeständige Tintenzusammensetzung
JP2002533247A (ja) 1998-12-24 2002-10-08 ザール テクノロジー リミテッド 小滴堆積装置
JP2007118611A (ja) 1998-12-24 2007-05-17 Xaar Technology Ltd 小滴堆積装置
WO2004003087A1 (en) 2002-07-01 2004-01-08 Nu-Kote International, Inc. Aqueous magnetic ink character recognition ink-jet ink composition
US7798630B2 (en) * 2005-06-29 2010-09-21 Fujifilm Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink-jet recording method
US20070105980A1 (en) * 2005-11-07 2007-05-10 Canon Finetech Inc. Ink jet aqueous ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus
US8573758B2 (en) * 2009-02-17 2013-11-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid jet recording head and liquid supply method
WO2011115614A1 (en) 2010-03-15 2011-09-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Inkjet ink with self-dispersed pigment
JP2013522414A (ja) 2010-03-15 2013-06-13 ヒューレット−パッカード デベロップメント カンパニー エル．ピー． 自己分散性顔料を含むインクジェットインク
JP2011202088A (ja) 2010-03-26 2011-10-13 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェット式記録装置
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US20140085381A1 (en) 2012-09-24 2014-03-27 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Inkjet head and manufacturing method for the inkjet head

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